Mummy Votives

Halloween is upon us and The Munchkin and I needed an easy project that he could do with minimal supervision...er, intervention.

My friend Aimee over at Aimee's Laboratory made these darling Mummy Candle Holders. They turned out to be the perfect project for a little guy!

Mummy Votive Holders:

This project was lots of fun and minimal investment. Everything we used, we already had on hand.



I cut the gauze roll in half, lengthwise, to give us double the length. Then, because I have a slight obsession with setting things on fire, I singed the edges.

Apparently The Munchkin, also has a thing for fire...let's just say, a torch to gauze doesn't disappoint, so be sure to have some water close by.



The only "Booglie" Eyes I had on hand were these from my up-cycled puppet project. They have a post on the back. I wouldn't recommend using them for this kind of project.



The Little Guy helped me wrap, tape and glue the eyes and gauze to my vases. He was so excited about the finished product! (They look a little angry if you ask me.)

All finished! This was a fun and easy project, and when Halloween ends, I can unwrap the gauze and use my vases for the next holiday!

Thanks for the fun craft idea, Aimee!

Halloween Tree

We've been in a bit of a creative funk lately. Well, when I say "we" I really mean "I" - growing a baby requires a lot of energy, not to mention the brain power that seems to be zapped when you need it most.

The Munchkin, on the other hand, has no shortage of creativity. Everyday is filled with a new "Machine" he's built from blocks, Lincoln Logs, blankets, etc., you name it.

I often tell him I'm "running out of steam" so, the other day he made me a "Get-up Steam Machine." It was a Mega Block tube with the corner of a blanket stuffed into it. He put it up to my HUGE baby belly and made a vacuum noise.

If only it were that simple.

He's constantly asking me "Did you like that Get-up Steam I gave you?"

Needless to say, we (I) needed to get into the Halloween Spirit. So we made this:

Our Halloween Tree

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It's a little sparse, and the twigs leave a lot to be desired, but it does the job!

Our supplies. When crafting with a 4-year-old, I find he'll spread EVERY individual item out for me whether I want him to or not.

I started out with a REAL pumpkin. I've seen the base of Halloween Tree's done with the craft store foam pumpkins. However, there's nothing like the real thing.

I cored a section in the center. You only have to core an inch or two, after that, its hollow inside.

Luckily we'd saved the twigs from our Easter Tree, because I'm way to pregnant to muster up the desire to find and paint new ones.

I covered them in plastic wrap, and filled in the gap with plastic wrap. Hopefully this will keep bugs out, and somewhat sealed off to help keep it from going bad.



We used all our same ornaments we made last year. The Munchkin added the two votive wreaths to the mix.



His little caterpillar is by far the Little Guy's favorite. He checks on him everyday, just to see if he's still climbing the tree.



The Tree is a little sparse for my taste, but I love the base. I've got a number of these pots in various sizes. They look a little like witches cauldrons. I put a bag full of rocks under the bottom one to keep it from moving, and a bag full of beans in the top one to give it some weight under the pumpkin. I also covered the bottom of both pots with hot glue. Love hot glue - it peals right off when your done!



The Little Guy was pretty proud of himself and our project when it was done. He picked where all of the ornaments went and LOVED helping me stack the pots and pumpkin.

Now onto the next project...Mummy Votives.

Ghost Cookies

One last Halloween Treat to share before this holiday is officially over until next year...

Ghosts Cookies!

They're a simple treat that took less time (and mess) to make than regular cookies.

Simply dip Nutter Butter Cookies in melted white chocolate and add mini-chocolate chips for eyes.

I finished mine with a thumb print pumpkin and individually wrapped them in treat bags.

It was super easy and fun! We made these for family night. I dipped, the Hubby dropped the eyes, and the Munchkin, well....he ate!

Happy Halloween!

Monster Bean Bags - Tutorial

For my dear, sweet, sister A. Have fun making these little monsters with your little munchkins!

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What you'll need:

1. 5-7 Felt Squares - Any Color (1 black & 1 white for eyes)
2. Glue Gun/Glue Sticks
3. Cheap Bag of Beans
4. Zipper Sandwich Baggies
5. Scraps of Yarn (not pictured)
   

Getting Started: Cutting

Body: For each Monster fold one felt square in half. Cut about 3 inches off the edge. You will be left with a 6 inch square (folded).

Eyes: For each Monster cut two large white rounds, two medium colored rounds, and two small black rounds.

Mouth: Use your imagination! For each Monster cut black backing in a strip or round, lips in a slightly smaller strip or round, and jagged teeth.

Spots: Here is where a 3-Year-Old comes in handy. Have your Munchkin(s) practice their scissor skills. They are great at cutting odd shaped spots - and teeth!

At this point - layer Eyes, Mouth and Teeth to get an idea of how your Monster will look!

Assembly: Gluing

Beans/Body: Scoop about 2/3 cup of dry beans into a zipper sandwich bag. Press out extra air and fold over excess plastic. Unfold square. Place beans in center. About one inch from edge place a line of hot glue. Fold and press two halves together.

Mouth: Take the mouth pieces you layered earlier and glue them to the body starting with the bottom (black) piece. Glue teeth in place last.

Eyes: Take the eye pieces you layered earlier and glue them to the body starting with the bottom (white) piece. Glue pupil in place last.

Spots: Take the spots you had your little Munchkin cut out. Glue them randomly to the body - both front and back.

Finish: Edging/Fringe and Horns

Fringe Edge: Cut strips about 1/2 inch deep (to glue line). Fringe strips can be exact width, or varying widths.

Horns: Fold fringe in corners, tie scrap yarn leaving an end long enough to tie a knot. Wrap yarn several times. Tie off and trim edges (see pic below).

***For a variation on the fringe/horns - cut along fold of the body, glue all four sides, cut fringe on all four sides, and wrap horns in each corner. (See red Monster Bag for reference).

Pull off all excess hot glue strings and you're DONE!

Enjoy your new Monster Bean Bags!

Our Monster Bash

I've been super busy the past couple of weeks.

Today just happened to be a free day - nothing pressing.

I didn't have anything I HAD to do or anywhere I HAD to be. Just me, and my little people. So, when The Baby went down for her morning nap, I pulled out a stack of felt squares from my stash and The 3-Year-Old and I made
Monsters!


All you need is a Paper Towel Tube cut in two, Colorful Felt Squares, a Small Baggie of Rice or Beans (to keep it from toppling over), Hot Glue, and your Imagination!


They're cute coming AND going...


The Munchkin did most of the cutting. Actually, I think he perfected his scissor skills today. He pulverized two sheets of felt. At least we got, spots, teeth (most of them), and part of the eyes from the scraps he left.

He dressed himself today. His shirt is on inside out and backwards. Since he put the sweater over it I didn't bother making him turn it around - not to mention that I got to have a little chuckle to myself every time I looked at him and saw "5t" peaking out through the collar of his sweater.



When we finished the Monsters, he asked if he could watch a "show" with "the guys."

His show choice - Frosty the Snowman. Perfect for two Halloween Monsters, don't you think?

I Saw a Halloween Tree...

"I saw a Halloween Tree
And someone was looking at me
Black Cats and Bats and Witches too,
With Ghosts and Goblins all say BOO-OO
BOO-OO, BOO-OO, BOO-OO"

We've been singing this song to The Munchkin (my 3-year-old) for about two months now. So, when I told him we were making a Halloween Tree, he couldn't (and hasn't) stop talking about it! He was even kind of helpful in his own little pre-schooler way.

We set off on a hunt for the perfect dead branch then spray painted it black, and let it dry overnight.



We made fun little bat ornaments from knotted ribbon inspired by these featured at Pebbles in My Pocket - she's having a 31 Days to Halloween Countdown.

The day we put the Halloween Tree together, The Munchkin got a package from his Grammy. In it were these little felt Witch Hat Pins. Perfect! They just needed a little bow to add some flair. (Dang Blogger for rotating the pic and not allowing me to rotate it back...)

We stuffed the "Tree Trunk" into a foam base and filled the pot with beans - they expired about 2 years ago and have been taking up space in my cupboard waiting to be used for this project, I guess!

This Caterpillar was supposed to be a joint effort, but once the Little Guy discovered we were using googly eyes, well - in his words "I'n too busy, Momma!" However, he was quite bossy when it came to the positioning of its "ears" (antenna). I found this at The Crafty Crow.

Our Halloween Tree...

This two-dimensional picture doesn't do it justice.

We like it, and The Munchkin - he can't stop talking about it.